Chapter Text
Simon had been living with his brother for about a month and a half now. The living situation was awkward at the beginning as neither brother knew how to speak with each other. It didn’t help that they barely knew each other as adults. Everything Simon knew about his brother’s life was thanks to his mum emailing him updates. Things got easier when his sister-in-law, Beth, forced them to sit down and talk.
Tom apologized for everything he said and did before getting sober. Simon explained that he thought it would be better for everyone if he kept his distance. He had seen and done some terrible things in his military career that he didn’t want to affect his family. They weren’t in a perfect place, but they were doing better and still improving. For instance, both Simon and Tom were sitting on the couch together watching a football game.
Well Tom was watching, Simon was knitting. His new hobby had been suggested during PT to help keep his hands from getting stiff. After telling his mum, Simon found himself part of a knitting circle with her and four other women at the local yarn store. The ladies loved Simon for reasons he was still unclear about. Although he would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy spending time with his mum. His therapist thought it was wonderful he was spending time out with people in a non-chaotic environment. Simon could only stare at her when she made that comment, clearly, she had never been around five grandmothers when there was a new piece of juicy gossip.
Simon was counting his stitches when he heard a name he was familiar with. He looked up and saw Johnny running across the screen waving to a stadium of fans.
“Oh I know him.”
A choking sound had Simon looking over at his brother who was pounding his chest while putting his water glass on the coffee table.
“You..*cough*.. Met Soap MacTavish?! When?!”
Simon blinked at the shock in Tom’s voice.
“Yeah, sat next to him on the plane home. Nice bloke.”
Tom’s eyes got impossibly wider as the gears in his head turned.
“Wait, the man from the airport? The one you gave your number too? That was him?!”
His question included a wild flailing toward the T.V where Johnny had taken his position in the goal. Simon nodded slowly in growing concern about Tom’s reaction. Tom stared at him before letting out a sound much like a balloon leaking air and slipping onto the floor. Simon rolled his eyes as he leaned over to look at Tom, who had draped his arm over his eyes. Simon nudged him with his foot.
“Oh, Stop being dramatic you wanker.”
Before Tom could form a reply, he was stopped by the sound of the front door opening quickly followed by the sound of a happy four-year-old. Simon set his knitting off the side just in time to get a lapful of his nephew Joseph.
“Unka Si!”
Joseph was the cutest child in all of existence in Simon’s totally unbiased opinion. Blond curls, chubby cheeks, bright eyes, and smile. He was a genuinely happy child, something Simon and Tom never had the chance to be.
“Hey Jo! Did you have fun at the library?”
Joseph nodded and excitedly started to babble how fun story time was and how he was friends with everyone. Beth soon followed her son, smiling fondly at his animated retelling of his day. Her smile turned into a frown when she spotted her husband on the floor.
“Simon, why is Tom on the floor?”
Before Simon could answer, Tom grunted and pointed at his brother.
“This man somehow managed to get a famous boyfriend immediately following his discharge and NEVER said anything.”
Simon could feel his cheeks heat up. He was oddly glad that his anxiety made him wear a mask that day, it kept his blush mostly covered. He tried to make himself smaller but scootching lower in his seat, but the effort was thwarted by his nephew who was still sitting in his lap. Beth raised an eyebrow, an impish smile dancing across her lips as his mum, Margaret entered the room.
“Simon has a boyfriend, does he? Well, does the boyfriend have a name?”
Simon mumbled, his blush intensifying.
“John, and he’s not my boyfriend. Just someone I met and had an enjoyable conversation with.”
Tom scoffed loudly as he sat up. Still on the floor and gestured at the tv.
“Someone he met pfft. He gave his number to SOAP MACTAVISH!”
Beth, while not as avid a fan of football as her husband, was still aware of the players gasped in shock.
“What!”
Simon wanted to die.
Margaret rolled her eyes as she moved behind the couch. As she did, she patted Simon on the shoulder.
“Just ignore them love. You should invite the young man over for dinner one night, I would love to meet him.”
Shit, Now Simon had to invite Johnny over. Joseph started to squirm, so Simon set him on the floor. Joseph immediately jumped onto his father who gave a playful ‘oof’ before tickling him. Soon enough everyone settled down. Tom and Beth chatted about their days and the game, while Joseph read quietly with his grandmother. Simon looked over at his mum, it warmed his heart to be able to see her love without fear. His family may not be perfect, but they were his and he loved them. Simon debated telling Tom that he had been texting with Johnny the entire time but decided not to, Tom’s head might explode. He smiled to himself as he picked his knitting back up.